Folding table

ABSTRACT

A FOLDING TABLE HAS A HINGED TABLE TOP AND PIVOTED SUPPORT LEGS. TWO DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE SUPPORT LEGS ARE PIVOTABLE TO A STOWED POSITION ADJACENT THE OTHER SUPPORT LEGS THAT ARE RELATIVELY FIXED. THE TABLE TOP HAS TWO PORTIONS THAT PIVOT DOWNWARDLY INTO A STOWED POSITION ADJACENT THE SUPPORT LEGS SO AS TO COMPLETE A PACKAGE THAT IS NO MORE THAN FOUR TIMES AS THICK AS ANY ONE OF THE LEGS.

P 1971 F. J. HICKMAN 3,606,845

FOLDING TABLE Filed April 21, 1969 I.\'\'I ..\"l'( m FRANKLIN J. H/CKMAN 13M halal 520/2 16 United States Patent 3,606,845 FOLDING TABLE Franklin J. Hickman, 49 Offatt Road, Bedford, Mass. 01730 Filed Apr. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 817,631 Int. Cl. A47b 3/00 US. Cl. 108-112 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A folding table has a hinged table top and pivoted support legs. Two diagonally opposite support legs are piv otable to a stowed position adjacent the other support legs that are relatively fixed. The table top has two portions that pivot downwardly into a stowed position adjacent the support legs so as to complete a package that is no more than four times as thick as any one of the legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of the invention This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to a folding table that can be stored in a minimal amount of space.

In rooms where people periodically congregate it is sometimes important to provide individual tables for the various people. Such a place of congregation is the living or family room of a dwelling or a room in a public building that is used for one purpose ordinarily, but doubles in use as a room of congregation for people only at certain times. Due to the periodic use of the aforementioned rooms for groups of people, it is important that the tables provided for times when people congregate be capable of being conveniently stored when the rooms are used for other purposes. Consequently, a need exists for a plurality of similar, readily storable tables for use in a room where people congregate periodically.

(B) Prior art Various storable tables have been provided in the prior art which are attempts at the solution of this problem. For example, metallic tables, often referred to as snack trays, are known which can be folded into a relatively compact package for storage when they are not in use. These metal tables, however, have the disadvantage that they are often unsightly and not appropriate for use in a family room of the home. Moreover, they are not readily storable with the furniture already in the room since wooden tables and decorative furniture in a typical family room provide a decor which is esthetically damaged by the use and storage of metal snack tables.

Another table arrangement know in the priorart is a series of stacked tables having different length legs and different length table surfaces which allow them to be stored one beneath the other. These tables have the disadvantage that they are of different heights and different sizes and, therefore, do not provide a uniform table area for each of the table users. In addition, each of the tables in the stacked position has its legs on the floor of the room. Thus, when the tables are in a stored position, it is very difiicult to clean the floor or rug under the tables without moving them.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved table for use in a dwelling which can be easily stored and which is esthetically pleasing both during use and storage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved table which can be one of a plurality of tables forming a set for use at certain times and which 3,606,845 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 "ice can collectively be stored in a minimal space while not detracting from the esthetic appearance of the room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, my table has a double hinged top and support legs of two types. One pair of support legs, for example, is fixed with respect to a portion of the table top, and another pair is pivotable in toward the fixed set. After the pair of pivotable legs have been folded against the fixed set, both sides of the top of the table fold down along spaced parallel axes against the stored legs to form a composite package. In this folded configuration, the total width of the package is no more than four times the width of an individual leg. Another feature of my table is that in the folded position a T-shaped member is formed by a portion of the table top. This T-shaped member is used to ride on or be inserted onto ledges or channels formed on the under side of a shelf or other type of support so that the table when in a stored configuration can be stored in a manner suspending it above the floor. Additionally, a plurality of similar tables can be stored in side-by-side relationship in a very minimum of space. The tables are preferably formed of wood, although other materials may be used. This folded table configuration and storage technique, therefore, provides an esthetic appearance of the tables in a dwelling room, such as a living or family room, which will not clash with the decor of the room since it may be formed of the same type of wood as other furniture in the room. Also, the tables are stored in an unobtrusive manner which facilitates floor cleaning because they are suspended above the floor. Moreover, they are immediately available for use when a plurality of such tables are needed during certain periods of usage of the room.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the table of my invention with one of the leaves in the folded position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a plurality of tables of my invention in a stored configuration; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom fragmentary view of the pivot mechanism for use in folding the legs of my table into adjacent relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, the table of my invention is generally illustrated by the numeral 10. The table top 12 is formed in three parts. A first leaf 14 and a second leaf 16 are pivotable in relation to a fixed center portion or leaf 18. Fixed leaf 18, when taken in connection with legs 20, 22, 24, 26, forms a T-shaped structure that has a function for storage to be hereinafter explained.

Support leg 20 and support leg 22 are herein termed as being relatively fixed, that is, do not pivot with respect to any other table member. However, support legs 24 and 26 are pivotable with respect to the legs 20 and 22. As clearly seen in FIG. 3, legs 24 and 26 respectively pivot about pivot links 28 and 30 in turn respectively carried by relatively fixed cross members 23 and 29 which are on opposite sides of center plane 32. The position of pivot links or hinges 28 and 30 are such that when legs 24 and 26 are pivoted toward relatively fixed legs 20 and 22, they fall on opposite sides of the plane defined by the center plane, shown as line 32 in FIG. 3. Therefore, when the relatively fixed legs and the pivotable legs are in a stowed configuration, that is, are folded together, the total width of the leg package is only double the width of any one leg.

In the illustrated embodiment of my table, there are, of course, matching pairs of pivot links or hinges 28 and 30. One pair is on the leg portions adjacent the table top and the other is on the leg portions nearer the floor. Where great rigidity of the table structure is not required, only one pair of pivot links and leg cross bars 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 may be used.

Referring to FIG. 2, table leaves 14 and 16 fold down away from the fixed leaf 18 so as to be parallel to plane 32 and against the folded package of legs 20, 22, 24 and 26. Desirably, the thickness of the leaves 14 and 16 are the same as the individual legs so that, in the stowed configuration, the total width of the table is approximately four times the thickness of a leg. As seen in FIG. 2, portion 18 then forms a T-shaped element when taken together with the fixed legs 20 and 22 and pivotable support legs 24 and 26. The overhanging portion of T-shaped member 18, designated by the numerals 34 and 36, are engageable with a pair of ledges 38 and 40 carried by a structure apart from the table. Therefore, the table is supported above a floor surface when in a stowed condition, as seen in FIG. 2, which facilitates cleaning therearound and which also keeps the tables individually readily available for use as desired. The esthetic decor of a room is not disturbed because the tables most desirably are com posed of the same type of wood as other furniture and, therefore, present a rather pleasing appearance when in a stowed condition.

It should also be noted that the hinges 42 and 44, which are carried by fixed leaf 18, are mounted on the table leaves 14 and 16 in such a manner that when the table leaves 14 and 16 are moved from their open position to a stowed position a space is generated between the fixed leaf 18 and the ends of the table leaves 14 and 1-6. This facilitates the engagement of the T -shaped structure of the fixed leaf 18 with the ledges 38 and 40 on the other structure for stowing purposes.

In summary, then, my invention provides a foldable table that is normally used with a plurality of similar tables that are adapted to be stored near their area of usage. Such an area may 'be a family room of a dwelling or a public room in a building where the tables are not in constant usage, but are used when desired. It is noted that the tables are identical in dimension and so each of the tables when used is the same size and does not disturb the esthetic appearance of the room in which they are used. In addition, the tables are designed in such a way that they are extremely stable, having outwardly projecting legs that act as Outriggers when taken together with the relatively stationary center legs. In addition, no latching members or intricate hinge arrangements are necessary because the movable or pivotable legs when swung out to the outrigger position automatically vertically support the parts of the table top that fold down away from the tin T-shaped center section.

The center section has a multiple purpose. The first purpose is providing a stationary support for the two fixed legs which simplifies the construction. A second purpose of the center T-shaped section is adapting the table to be stored under some other piece of furniture. And, lastly, the T- shaped section provides a fixed member against which the pivotable outer portions of the table top fit when the legs are pivoted to their outermost position. This establishes a firm and fixed reference for the table top. In this manner, the table top is always in alignment with other portions and this not only increases the esthetic appearance, but also provides a relatively smooth surface which is adapted to support things evenly. Another feature worthy of note is the fact that the only metal that need be used in a table construction, wherein wood is the major structural component, is in the two pivot links that support the legs and the two hinge members that allow the folding of the table leaves into a stored configuration. In this manner, the table is of very simple construction and yet is very sturdy. Moreover, it does not require special fixtures and metal components such as are needed by tables of the prior art.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A folding table comprising (A) a pair of fixed support legs,

(B) a horizontal member connecting the tops of the support legs, so that the horizontal member and fixed support legs form a T when viewed on end,

(C) a pair of table leaves hinged to opposite sides of the horizontal member swingable between an upper position wherein the top surfaces of the leaves and horizontal member lie in a single horizontal plane and a lower position wherein the leaveshang down vertically adjacent the fixed support legs with a relatively wide gap existing between the adjacent edges of the horizontal member and the table leaves so that the horizontal member forming the arms of the T can be engaged over a pair of spaced apart projections to support the table above the ground, and

(D) means for supporting the table leaves in their upper position.

2. The folding table as defined in claim 1 and further including a pair of ledges supported above the floor surface and engaging under the opposite sides of the horizontal member to support the table above the floor surface. 45

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 281,281 7/1883 Menuez 10879 312,039 2/1885 Tucker 10s-112 392,407 11/1888 Chorman 108112 1,242,347 10/1917 Henderson 108112 1,792,555 2/1931 Thum 108112 2,325,182 7/1943 Fitzpatrick 10877 2,425,370 8/ 1947 Giberson 108-79 2,696,416 12/1954 Stedman 10879 2,868,598 l/1959 Karoff 10879 3,021,184 2/1962 Leffler l0879 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 10879 

